VALE OF CLYDE striker Derek Hepburn has completed a dream move to Pollok even though the man credited with his discovery – Tin Pail team boss Ian Currie – is not convinced he will establish himself as a star turn at Newlandsfield.

A frustrated Currie vented his feelings in the wake of 21-year-old Hepburn concluding the signing formalities to give Lok supremo Tony McInally a nap hand of confirmed close-season acquisitions along with Mark Sideserf (Irvine Meadow), Chris Walker (Shotts Bon Accord), Ross McCabe (Petershill) and Colin Williamson (Cumnock).

Said the clearly irate Tollcross gaffer: “I’m maybe one of the Junior game’s dinosaurs but surely it’s not asking too much for Tony to afford myself and Vale of Clyde the courtesy of a phone call even if it’s just to say he’s plundering away one of our players.

“Arthurlie were likewise on Del’s case but at least Robert Downs had the decency to inform us of his intentions as did Tam McDonald of Shotts when he attempted to follow up his stated interest in Connor Stevenson.

“But sorry to say not everyone in the game conducts themselves in this manner and Tony is not alone in the way he goes about his transfer business.

”I can only think he feared us slapping a huge transfer fee on Del’s head even though nothing could be further from the truth, however I do intend to pursue official channels to discover if Vale of Clyde have any entitlement to a development fee given that Del has been under our wing since he was 18 years of age.”

Turning his attention to departing hitman Hepburn he mused: “Del has many of the qualities needed to be a top striker … He’s brave, fast off his mark, and a natural finisher as befitting someone born with a nose for goal.

“But he’s at a stage in his career now where he needs to play regularly in order to improve his overall game and I’m not altogether sure that will happen at Pollok when you measure him against the strikers already at Tony’s disposal.

“David Winters is hardly likely to be sitting on the sidelines when the big Super Premier Division contests are played and neither is the more physical Alan McKenzie so I just hope Del does not end up a substitute most weeks and only starting cup games against lower league opponents or through injury and suspension.

“He really deserves better because if the style of Pollok’s play is suited to him then he will revel in Newlandsfield’s surroundings.”

Another emerging Tin Pail starlet Beau Longridge is thought to be on the signing radar of Irvine Meadow, while Ryan Scanlon is interesting Livingston and Currie insists both Arthurlie and Pollok have their sights trained on his defensive cornerstone Hashim Cole.

He slammed: “If other clubs would leave us alone then I’m pretty sure Vale of Clyde could build a decent side but these constant raids by other managers are pulling the carpet from under our feet.

“I don’t want to lose any more but it can be difficult to hold onto your playing squad given it’s the way of things nowadays for the big guns to appoint managers who don’t unearth talent themselves but prefer to wave the cheque book and entice away the best talent from clubs like Vale of Clyde.”

Pollok prospect Hepburn is grateful to his erstwhile boss for giving him the platform to earn his Junior spurs.

He revealed: “I was very close to agreeing a deal to join Arthurlie until Tony telephoned last midweek and he proved to be very persuasive when we eventually met up.

“He did his best to get me on board following a pre-season game last summer but Ian was not for letting me go, however Tony kept his promise by following up his interest a year down the line.

“He says the supporters will quickly take to my playing style so the chance to test myself in the Super Premier is exciting and I’m looking forward to playing at Newlandsfield which is one of the best Junior arenas around.”

Meanwhile, one-time Pollok midfielder and current Thorniewood United boss Andy Frame has affirmed his intention to keep wing ace Chris Lennon at Robertson Park.

He insisted: “Reports going the rounds reckon Chris has signed for Pollok but nothing could be further from the truth as he is under contract with Thorniewood and it would take a king’s ransom to prise him away.

“He is an integral part of our plans for next season and is going nowhere.”